The supplementary question.

The supplementary question.

Once again, I’ll remind members to please make their comments through the Chair.

Start the clock. The next question.

Are there any more points of order before we recess?

This House stands in recess until 3 p.m.

The House recessed from 1152 to 1500.

Introduction of visitors? I hope I didn’t scare anyone off.

Report adopted.

Ms. Smith moved first reading of the following bill:

Bill Pr33, An Act to revive 1000067464 Ontario Inc.

First reading agreed to.

Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that, when the page from Carleton was introduced, apparently his last name was mispronounced. It was pronounced “Worsley” and not “Wereley.” I received a call to my office asking if this could be corrected on the record.

I beg leave to present a report from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and move its adoption.

Je voudrais corriger le record : j’ai mentionné 2,8 milliards de dollars quand je voulais mentionner 8,3 milliards de dollars.

Bill Pr23, An Act to revive Ice Hockey Resources Ltd.

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order: I’d like to introduce the class from Rehoboth school in the great village of Norwich who are here this morning. I would have done it earlier, but they were caught in the traffic and they couldn’t get here. But they are here now, and we would like to say welcome to Queen’s Park.

My question is for the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

Today, delegations from the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario are holding meetings with members and with our government to update us on their work to provide new and innovative tourism experiences to locals and visitors alike. It’s vital that we value and appreciate their insight as we all work together to understand and address the challenges facing businesses in the tourism sector.

Can the minister please explain what our government is doing to support Ontario’s tourism industry?

Today’s meetings with members of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario are timely since tomorrow is World Tourism Day. That being said, it’s also a reminder that while tourism is celebrated and recognized internationally, it’s also a highly competitive industry.

Can the minister please explain how our government is partnering with the tourism industry to unlock its true economic potential and ensure Ontario remains a world-class tourism destination?

Thanks for the question—and I’d also like to thank her for all the work she has done in a very short period of time and the impact she has made, not only in her community, but across Ontario. It’s great work, and thank you for that.

Mr. Speaker, tourism touches us all in many ways, and today it has touched us a lot because we’ve had the great pleasure of not only having a reception last night with the leadership group and people around and colleagues showing up—but today in meetings.

Tourism, I’ve found, has become very special to me in many ways. When I’ve had conversations and understand what tourism does on driving economic power into our province—how they do it and how they went through a very tough time. I’ve met with a lot of them, and I’m going to meet with more of them because they’re inspiring. They’re inspiring because when you sit down, they don’t say, “Here, I need this, help”; they say, “We have a problem. Here’s our solution. Will you work with us to get to that solution?”—and you bet we will, Speaker.

When I look across the industry—and really, like most things, it comes down to people, the types of people you’re dealing with, and whom we’ve been dealing with in the tourism industry have enlightened, have expanded and have been aggressive, to go through a tough time and come out the other side and find ways to be better.

A great example—and I won’t necessarily mention—yes, I will: Blue Mountain ski resort. Blue Mountain has taken a turn and they do things other than just with snow. They take advantage of the landscape and the natural beauty. They do so many things to draw people to their area—and that’s not just about Blue Mountain; that’s about the whole region. There are regions across this province that have so much to offer, like Blue Mountain, and the people who are in this—

Thank you to the minister for that response.

Our senior population not only provides us with wisdom and experience, but they are critical to the continued growth of our communities. Events such as the Grand Parade are important in bringing seniors together for social interaction, but we also know that there need to be ongoing opportunities for seniors to be engaged in their communities. Our government must continue to work for the many Ontario seniors who built this province, who lent their expertise, so that they can remain active, healthy and live comfortably. Seniors in Ontario deserve our best and our continued support on every level.

Can the minister please explain how our government is supporting our senior population in this province?

My question is to the Premier.

The property at 502 Winston Road in Grimsby was removed from the greenbelt. New Horizon Development Group purchased this property after you became Premier. Since then, the co-founders and their families made substantial donations to the PC Party.

Given public concerns in Niagara, what actions have you taken to investigate potential links between these donations and the greenbelt decision?

What have you done to investigate the surge in the financial support and the degree of favoritism in the greenbelt sell-off?

Thank you to the excellent MPP from Simcoe–Grey for the question. He is doing a marvellous job advocating for seniors in his riding. He invited me to kick off the Grand Parade and meet the friendliest people in Alliston, Ontario. Events like this are important because they create ways for seniors and their families to get active, be together and support each other.

I’d like to give a big shout-out to Contact Community Services for this marvellous event. I encourage all members to follow their lead and bring seniors in their community together.

In fact, Contact Community Services received $25,000 to help isolated seniors live healthy, get engaged and access resources in the community. This is how we are supporting seniors in Simcoe–Grey and across this province to get together, get the supports they need and be in their community.

It’s always an honour to speak in the House—today, actually, is my first chance speaking since we came back from break—and to give a few comments on the first annual Test Your Smoke Alarm Day.

There are some sobering statistics that we don’t often think about. In 2022 in the province of Ontario, 133 people died as a result of residential fires. That’s an incredible number. It’s the highest in two decades. There are also statistics to show that a working smoke alarm, between 2015 and 2021—I’m going to reword this, because this is a very serious issue. Between 2015 and 2021, homes without working smoke alarms accounted for nearly three out of four deaths, 74%.

Another statistic, and this one is a US statistic, but I think it would pertain to Canada as well: According to the US National Fire Protection Association, a working smoke alarm in your home cuts your risk of dying in a fire by 55%.

It’s very easy to do. There are people who forget, but it’s easy to do. Anyone who knows me knows I’m not much of a cook, and the few times I’ve tried to cook something, often the smoke alarm goes off. You know what? I have been guilty of taking it down. It’s easy to do because you always think that it will never happen to you.

I commend the fire marshal’s office for giving us the chance to remind people once again—it’s so easy to do—to check it and make sure it works.

I don’t think we can talk about the risk of fire without talking about firefighters, both volunteer and professional, who actually run towards the fire while, hopefully, we are running away. For those people who take the ultimate risk, the least we could do is to remind people to make sure your fire alarms, your smoke alarms are working.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the member from Oxford and his long journey to get the Hawkins Gignac Act passed, which makes carbon monoxide testers also a requirement in houses in Ontario. The member from Oxford is on the opposing party, but he happens to be my uncle, so I’m kind of obligated to mention it. It is an example of a really good initiative that took far too long to get through this House, but it did finally get through. It happened. He was so adamant because he had a tragedy happen in his riding. We’ve all had tragedies happen, and it’s one of the things that drives us to prevent further tragedies from happening.

There’s one other issue I would like to mention regarding emergency services, particularly in northern Ontario: There are parts of Ontario—parts of populated Ontario—that still do not have 911. They don’t have it. I am told that people are working on it and we’re going to get it, but as we speak, there are people in this province, especially those moving to my part of the world, who think they have 911. If they hear their fire alarm and they call 911, they will not be directed anywhere. That’s something else we need to change as quickly as possible.

Thank you very much for the opportunity.

It is my privilege to rise in the House today in recognition of the inaugural Test Your Smoke Alarm Day, taking place on September 28.

Interjections.

I want to thank Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal for launching and tirelessly promoting this important day of action and awareness. And I want to thank my colleague the member from Oxford, whose private member’s bill a long time ago paved the way for us and our action today.

Mr. Speaker, fire statistics show that fatal fires have increased year over year for the past four years. Last year there were 133 fire fatalities in the province. This is the highest number of fire-related deaths in the province in two decades. Statistically, the Office of the Fire Marshal’s investigators found that in the majority of fatal fires, there were no working smoke alarms.

This troubling trend continues. This summer, a mother and her child from Brampton and a 54-year-old in Waterloo died in residential fires with no working smoke alarms. There has also been a high number of fatal fires in First Nations communities across Ontario.

Mr. Speaker, these preventable deaths prompted Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal to spearhead the first-ever Test Your Smoke Alarm Day. This day of action aims to raise awareness about the critical importance of having working smoke alarms in our homes and the role they play in keeping our families safe.

Smoke alarms are a first line of defence. They provide early warning that can mean the difference between life and death in the event of a fire emergency. However, smoke alarms are only effective when they are in good working condition, and that’s why Test Your Smoke Alarm Day is so crucial.

This year’s theme is “Saved by the Beep,” emphasizing the vital role that properly functioning smoke alarms play in safeguarding our homes and loved ones. “Saved by the Beep” reminds us that the simple act of testing our smoke alarms can be a lifesaver. These small devices are often taken for granted, and yet they have the power to provide early warning and save lives in the event of a fire.

Mr. Speaker, on September 28, I encourage all residents of Ontario to just take a few minutes and test your smoke alarms to ensure they are functioning properly. Here are some steps to follow on Test Your Smoke Alarm Day:

(1) Press and hold the test button on your smoke alarm to ensure it makes a loud and audible sound. The sound will be three loud beeps.

(2) Replace the batteries in your smoke alarm if they are more than a year old. I’ve led by my own example of changing all my batteries at our home, which is the right thing to do.

(3) Vacuum or gently dust your alarms to remove any debris that may interfere with their operations.

(4) Ensure you have smoke alarms installed outside all sleeping areas and on every storey of your home. For added protection, we encourage everyone to install a working alarm in every bedroom.

(5) Lastly, replace all smoke alarms that are more than 10 years old.

To learn about the Saved by the Beep campaign and find resources on smoke alarm maintenance, safety, tips and educational materials, I encourage Ontarians to visit the dedicated website, savedbythebeep.ca. There’s a wealth of valuable information to help people ensure the safety of their home and family.

By participating in this initiative, we are not only prioritizing the safety of our own families, but we are also contributing to the overall safety of our communities. A well-prepared and vigilant community is a safer and more resilient one.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, let’s make Test Your Smoke Alarm Day an annual tradition in our province. Together, we can help prevent tragic fire-related incidents and protect the well-being of all Ontarians.

Thank you for your commitment to safety. Let’s work together to save lives by making sure that every home in Ontario is equipped with a properly functioning smoke alarm.

“Petition to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas health care and support services are increasingly understaffed workplaces; and

“Whereas health and care services rank second highest for lost-time injuries ... among all sectors in Ontario; and

“Whereas complex care is increasingly prevalent with the growing and aging population; and

“Whereas recipients of care prefer services outside of large institutions and close to or inside their homes, whether group homes, retirement homes, or other residential care facilities; and

“Whereas developmental support workers (DSWs) are the backbone of group homes and similar residential care facilities that deliver care for people with exceptionalities; and

“Whereas bites, cuts, broken bones are all too common injuries when doing this work; and

“Whereas all group home and residential care workers deserve workplace protections as we ask them to care for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities; and

“Whereas it is not currently mandatory for employers to provide WSIB protections to DSWs, particularly in group homes where a majority of DSWs and workers like them provide care; and

“Whereas approximately 25% of health and care workers have no WSIB protections under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997; and

“Whereas efforts to expand WSIB coverage to DSWs and all workers like them has received yes votes from members of all political parties represented in the Legislature; and

“Whereas there is currently legislation before the House: Bill 54, WSIB Coverage for Workers in Residential Care Facilities and Group Homes Act, 2022;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as follows:

“Legislate or regulate an expansion of WSIB to offer mandatory coverage to all health and care service workers in Ontario by categorizing all those who operate a group home or residential care facilities, including retirement homes, rest homes and senior citizens’ residences, a schedule 1 employer.”

I agree with this petition, affix my signature in the corner and hand it to page Devyansh.

I move that when the House adjourns on Thursday, November 2, it stands adjourned until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2023.

I move that the following changes be made to the membership of the following committees:

On the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Mr. Leardi replaces Mr. McGregor, Mr. Kanapathi replaces Ms. Gallagher Murphy and Mr. Oosterhoff is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Mr. McCarthy is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr. Cuzzetto is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, Mr. Jones, Chatham-Kent–Leamington, is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Social Policy, Mr. Rae is removed;

On the Standing Committee on Heritage, Infrastructure and Cultural Policy, Ms. Kusendova-Bashta replaces Ms. Smith, Thornhill; Mr. Rae replaces Mr. Holland; Mr. Coe replaces Mr. Thanigasalam and Mr. McGregor is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on the Interior, Ms. Gallagher Murphy replaces Mr. Flack, Mr. McGregor replaces Ms. Dixon and Mr. Leardi is removed; and

Finally, on the Standing Committee on Government Agencies, Mr. Holland replaces Mr. Coe, Mr. McGregor replaces Mr. Sabawy and Mr. Jones, Chatham-Kent–Leamington, is removed.

Ms. Khanjin has moved that when the House adjourns on Thursday, November 2, it stands adjourned until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

On the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Mr. Leardi replaces Mr. McGregor, Mr. Kanapathi replaces Ms. Gallagher Murphy and Mr. Oosterhoff is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Mr. McCarthy is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr. Cuzzetto is removed; and

On the Standing Committee on Justice Policy, Mr. Jones, Chatham-Kent–Leamington, is removed; and

On the Standing Committee—

Interjection: Dispense.

Is it the pleasure of the House that the motion carry? Carried.

Motion agreed to.

I would like to thank Madame Monique Roberge from Chelmsford in my riding for this petition.

“Whereas people in the north are not getting the same access to health care because of the high cost of travel and accommodations;

“Whereas by refusing to raise the Northern Health Travel Grant (NHTG) rates, the Ford government is putting a massive burden on northern Ontarians who are sick;

“Whereas gas prices cost more in northern Ontario;”

They petition the Legislative Assembly as follows:

“To establish a committee with a mandate to fix and improve the” Northern Health Travel Grant;

“This Northern Health Travel Grant advisory committee would bring together health care providers in the north, as well as recipients of the Northern Health Travel Grant to make recommendations to the Minister of Health that would improve access to health care in northern Ontario through adequate reimbursement of travel costs.”

I fully support this petition, will affix my name to it and ask my good page Sophia Rose to bring it to the Clerk.

I’m pleased to read this petition that was handed to me this morning by members of CAPE and the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

“Petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly.

“For Meaningful Climate Action Stop Gas Plant Expansion.

“Whereas our planet is undergoing significant warming with adverse consequences for health, for agriculture, for infrastructure and our children’s future;

“Whereas the costs of inaction are severe, such as extreme weather events causing flooding and drought;”

Therefore “we, the undersigned, call upon the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to stop fossil gas and invest rapidly in lower-cost, proven renewable energy and conservation technologies.”

I wholeheartedly support this petition, will sign it and ask page Sophia to bring it to the table.

I would like to thank Jennifer Enright from my riding and members of the Canadian Amyloidosis Support Network for this petition.

“To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:

“Whereas amyloidosis is an incurable disease that affects Ontario residents and their loved ones;

“Whereas amyloidosis, including hereditary and non-hereditary forms of the disease, is caused by abnormal proteins, known as amyloids, that build up in the tissues and/or organs of the body and can cause organ failure and can be fatal;

“Whereas recognition of this disease is critical in order to ensure that more Ontarians are diagnosed earlier. Earlier diagnoses can ensure patients receive treatments in a timely manner and can contribute to a more positive outcome, better quality of life and longer quality of life. In addition, these benefits can reduce the burden on society in general;

“Whereas both national and local support groups for patients are working to ensure that more treatment options are available to patients in this province, that more publicly funded drugs are available to fight this disease in Ontario, and that adequate care is accessible to all Ontarians no matter where they live;

“We, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly ... as follows:

“To recognize March 2024 as Amyloidosis Awareness Month to raise awareness of this disease among our fellow Ontarians and to improve outcomes for both patients and their families and for newly diagnosed and as-yet-undiagnosed patients.”

I fully support this. This is a disease that my father suffered from before he passed so, believe me, I think this is a very worthy and important petition.